Resort Sougia characteristics

The traditional Greek village of Sougia lies on the south-west coast of Crete, about 70 km south of the regional town of Chania. This small town on the edge of the Agia Irini gorge has long stood outside the burgeoning tourist industry. Nowadays Sougia is also marked on maps of popular Cretan resorts, but don't expect any mass tourism here, instead only a special type of tourists come here. The village is mainly visited by lovers of the beautiful and wild Cretan nature, empty beaches and the peaceful Greek way of life.

There are several nice tavernas serving traditional Greek food near the local beach, and in the centre of the village you will find smaller accommodation facilities (small guesthouses and family apartments) or a shop selling a variety of goods. Your basic tourist needs will be well catered for, but for other services (such as post office, pharmacy, petrol station, etc.) you will have to go to one of the nearby resorts. Along the coast to the west lies the popular seaside town of Paleochora, while to the east along the coast, Loutro and Chora Sfakion are a change.

Sougia also has a small harbour, which is very important for the village. It provides the town with links to the surrounding resorts, and during the main tourist season, boats regularly leave from here for the towns of Paleochora, Loutra, Chora Sfakion and Agia Roumeli. You can also pay a cruise to the nearby island of Gavdos. The village of Sougia can also be reached by land, and the road from the north is particularly beautiful as it leads through the beautiful, green and wild nature of the Cretan hinterland (it takes about 2 hours to reach Chania).

Coast and beach of Sougia

The village of Sougia is bordered by a long beach covered with coarse sand and pebbles and washed by crystal clear sea. The beach starts in the west of the village at the small harbour and stretches eastwards for about 1.5 km. Small tamarisk trees grow along the beach, providing much needed shade on hot summer days. Recently, umbrellas with sunbeds have been placed in the main part of the beach, otherwise the beach is unorganised and very quiet, almost deserted. It is not surprising that it is popular with nudists and naturists.

History of the area and tips for trips

The present-day village of Sougia lies on the site of an ancient city called Syia, which functioned as a port for the Roman Empire (most of its remains lie underwater today). Above the village stands the old church of Agia Irini (St. Panteleimon), dating from the 6th century and decorated with beautiful floor mosaics. From the church there is a beautiful view of the distant surroundings.

To the west of the resort are the remains of the ancient city of Lissos, where you can see, for example, the remains of the Temple of Asclipius, an ancient theatre, baths and vaulted tombs. This archaeological area can be reached either by boat or on foot (the journey takes about 1 hour).

The surroundings of Sougia are decorated with beautiful and varied nature, ideal for hiking. You can explore the main attraction of the area up close and go hiking through the Agia Irini gorge, with a total length of 12 km (the trip takes about 3.5 hours). The trail is characterized as moderate, it leads through green nature, among different types of trees, shrubs and plants. The Agia Irini trail is one of the official European trails and is also equipped with toilets and drinking water along the way.

A popular hiking trip is also the walk along the coast to the town of Paleochora (the walk takes about 4 hours).

Who is the centre suitable for?

Sougia is a really quiet and peaceful place, ideal for rest, relaxation and hiking. The pleasant accommodation, together with the friendly and helpful locals, will certainly give you a relaxed and family atmosphere. On the other hand, the place is not suitable for those who want to travel a lot during their stay, as transport accessibility is more difficult in this area.

More touristic destinations of Crete

Most favourite resorts of Crete: Adelianos Kampos, Agia Marina, Agios Nikolaos, Heraklion (Iraklion), Hersonissos, Chania, Ierapetra, Kalamaki (Matala), Malia, Platanias (Chania), Rethymno, Stalis

Resorts, beaches, sights or trips - clearly listed on the map of Crete.